Power Rankings: The Farewell Tour edition

Every season, there is some old dude on a contending team's roster trying to get a championship before he retires. Sometimes he skates off into the next life, like Mark Recchi did with the Boston Bruins in 2011. And some are like Matt Cullen, who we all assumed would do the same thing after winning a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and then ... didn't.

But the farewells aren't restricted to playoff teams, nor to players who are in their twilight years. The final few weeks of the NHL season will see many players, with expiring contracts or contracts teams might want to move, competing in their last games for a given franchise.

This week in the NHL Power Rankings: the most likely farewell tours for all 31 teams.

How we rank: We use a panel of voters, and these rankings reflect which teams voters think would win head-to-head matchups. Higher-ranked teams are favored over lower-ranked teams. A run of wins doesn't guarantee a jump, and a couple of losses doesn't guarantee a fall.

Mike Fisher. One assumes the itch will be scratched, both for the player and the team seeking a low-cost, known commodity for its fourth line, so enjoy the unretired veteran's last spin around the rinks.

Chris Kunitz. He's 38 and on a one-year deal. If the Lightning win, does he go out a winner? (And if they win, how many clutch moments will Kunitz, a frequent playoff hero for the Penguins, have had along the way?)

Zdeno Chara. This is a tough one because the big guy is playing phenomenal hockey and has been an incredible mentor to players such as Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy. But Chara is 40 and in the last year of his contract. If the Bruins win the Cup, perhaps this is the end for Big Z. In any case, enjoy this season from a timeless classic of a player.

Toby Enstrom. He has played his entire career with Winnipeg, but the defenseman turns 34 in November. His ice time has dipped this season, and as a pending UFA, this could be the last flight for this Jet.

Carl Hagelin. Look, as constructed, the Penguins don't have a lot of players in their last days or players who are pending UFAs. But they might need to open up some cap room, and Hagelin, who turns 30 in August, will be in his walk year. Enjoy the flow for now.

James van Riemsdyk. It's hard to imagine the Leafs without JVR, and it's hard to imagine JVR wanting to leave this team. But he's a UFA looking long term, and it isn't implausible that they both move on.

Ryane Clowe's cap hit. Just kidding. For lack of a better option, we'll go with John Moore, an unrestricted free agent whom we're sure the Devils would like to keep but who could see a pretty penny on the open market.

Blake Comeau. Will he move on after three seasons with the Avalanche? Just remember, Colorado: You're playing every game left this season not only for an improbable wild-card spot and a potential Hart Trophy for Nathan MacKinnon but also for another few weeks of Blake Comeau.

Kari Lehtonen. If this is indeed the last ride for one of the most overpaid yet potentially underappreciated netminders in the NHL, then he goes out having ably filled in for Ben Bishop during the latter's most recent injury.

ESPN On Ice

Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan take a deep dive into the NHL postseason bubble and cover Alex Ovechkin's chase for 600 goals. They also welcome former Penguins and Sabres coach Dan Bylsma of the NHL Network to talk hockey analytics, as well as Kings broadcaster Patrick O'Neal of Fox Sports Los Angeles. Listen »

Roberto Luongo. Let's be absolutely clear here: Luongo is on a Jaromir Jagr-like level of "we don't want this person out of our hockey lives at any point in the foreseeable future." But he turns 39 in April and could easily go out on top if he'd like. Or, he could return next season to play for about half his base salary. But he's, um, probably not sticking around to make $1.618 million in 2019. Just sayin'.

Artem Anisimov. Artie's no-move clause becomes a no-trade clause after this season, he has value, and the Blackhawks need to get younger and cheaper any way they can.

Playoff Watch Daily

Which teams have the best shot at locking up a playoff spot? Who's earning a better shot at the No. 1 overall pick? Here are the latest projections for both, along with critical matchups to watch today and more. Read »

Alain Vigneault. A maligned coach who nonetheless currently has the best points percentage of anyone who was with the team for more than one season. But one assumes he will step away to make room for the rebuild.

Oscar Klefbom. The defenseman was apparently in play around the trade deadline, and as a young player with a good contract, would anyone be surprised if Peter Chiarelli made him Edmonton's next regrettable trade?

Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. Here's hoping the twins sign one-year deals that keep both of them in Vancouver. But in case they don't, they deserve double the adulation as the season heads to its finish.

Max Domi. The Coyotes' pugnacious forward has been rumored to be getting a "fresh start" somewhere else as he hits restricted free agency. (Please note our restraint in not going for the cheap heat of listing the Coyotes themselves here, though I guess we just violated that with this parenthetical note of self-congratulation.)